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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

A Telling Non-Rationalist Moment

Some time ago, Rabbi Slifkin published a post on his great Rationalist Judaism blog called A Grand Vision. Before I say anything, I should note that I respect Rabbi Slifkin for his courage and scholarship. I read his blog frequently and am in possession of his great work called The Challenge of Creation. I think that if there would be more Rabbis like him, many people would not have opted out of Orthodox Judaism. So perhaps it is a good thing there is only Rabbi Slifkin. But I digress…

In the abovementioned post, he divulges the reason why he doesn’t address an overall vision of Judaism:

“I am more of an intellectual historian than a theologian. And my own emunah is primarily based on Jewish history, which doesn't speak to everyone, and on hashgachah pratis in my own life, which is very personal and non-rationalist to the extreme!”

Those are frank and honest words.

Which should make everyone think: If even the most radically rationalist Orthodox Rabbi I am aware of does not base his religion on facts but on faith, what does this tell us about Orthodox Judaism?!

7 comments:

Yeah. Ultimately, every religious person must admit that essentially it's irrational - and thus the "Rationalist Orthodoxy" of the Natan Slifkins or Gil Students of the world is actually an oxymoron, and not all that different than the orthodoxy of the chreidim that they oppose... but, I guess the positive element is that at least they're thinking about things a little bit?In a way they may be worse, as they use the rationalism moniker "as the pig uses his kosher foot" ;-) But in all honesty I do think that they are a positive development - it's hard to quit "cold turkey" on religion.

You are right - it is refreshing to see some people really are an "Ish Emes" - and willing to tell the truth no matter how bad a light it puts them in. I salute him for that. I have found that people of that caliber are few and far between in the world. And your point is well taken - it is so blatantly obvious that Judaism cannot be rationally proven, and those who claim otherwise are lying to both to themselves and others.

Gutman - you are spot on - it really IS very hard to quit cold turkey on something one has spent his/her entire life devoted to. I would even say very nearly impossible - except maybe for someone with great moral fiber. The stakes for most who have really invested over many years are just too great. See even Slifkin's brother XGH - he still hasn't given up completely despite having realized the bitter truth long ago...

Total cop-out, as usual. Let's be rational when it feels good, but when it comes to my emunah, I'll refuse to apply reason, at least publicly. 100 bucks says his "overall vision" is either completely kefirahdik and he keeps it quiet or totally vague, hand-wavy, and unexamined.

He has courage for what he's done, but he doesn't have it when it would mean crossing a line he doesn't want to cross. As long as he can at least arguably consider himself Orthodox, he's courageous. But he won't take the next step.

JA, that is EXACTLY why his works are banned! The next step is off the cliff....why is he so surprised when his stuff is banned?

undercover, "not all that different than the orthodoxy of the chreidim that they oppose" - i would hold that its worse for the reason that JA points out. whats worse than a hypocrite! nothing. they apply reason, when they want. and they BASH the yeshivish crowd for their irationality! it disgusts me...

orthoprax is the only way out, in my view....which is probably what slifkin is (no, not THAT one) but he just won't admit it. its too painful. as many of us know

As one who has always had an extremely low tolerance for intellifundie bafflegab, I would routinely rake them over the coals for what seemed to be their incomprehensible refusal to take their 'rationalism' to its logical conclusions.

Lately however, I've softened up quite a bit, as I've come to appreciate just how closely some people's core identities are bound up with the cultural baggage they've been carrying around since infancy, although I still occasionally just want to plotz.

Oh yes... and leave to good ol' HH to seize on R' Slifkin's use of the word 'history' as if he was referring to historical 'proofs' for judaism, rather than simply expressing his abiding sense of historical continuity with the jewish people.